Aqueous gel formulation and method for inducing topical anesthesia

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a stable aqueous gel formulation suitable for topical use comprising water, an anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine hydrochloride), a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, wherein the aqueous gel formulation is free of preservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiological fluids, and is sterile and has low particulate count. Also disclosed is a method of inducing topical anesthesia on a tissue or organ, e.g., the eye, of an animal comprising providing a stable aqueous gel formulation comprising water, an anesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, wherein the aqueous gel formulation is free of preservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiological fluids, and is sterile, and topically administering an effective amount of the aqueous gel formulation to the tissue or organ of the animal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/491,611, filed Jul. 24, 2006, which isincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Anesthesia is a process commonly used to block the perception of pain.The first public demonstration of administering an anesthetic agentoccurred over 150 years ago when diethyl ether was utilized during asurgical operation to remove a tumor. Today, anesthetic agents areutilized in patient procedures across the medical specialties.

Anesthetic agents are used in procedures carried out on various tissuesand organs. For example, with regard to procedures performed on the eye,common anesthetic agents utilized include subconjunctival injections ofaqueous lidocaine and tetracaine drops. However, subconjunctivalinjections of aqueous lidocaine are less than desirable as many patientssuffer from anxiety caused by needle phobia and/or the physical paincaused by the actual injection. Indeed, it is believed that the anxietylevels can reach the point where patients avoid the necessary medicalcare. The topical administration of tetracaine drops avoids theseneedle-related problems. However, there are some drawbacks with suchdrops. Some of the drops administered to patient may miss the eye due tothe shaking of the hand or the blinking of the eye. The residence timeof the drop on the eye is limited, for example, less than about aminute. Thus, the anesthetic efficacy of the tetracaine drops couldbecome insufficient since both the onset of anesthesia is not rapid, andthe duration of anesthetic activity is limited. Some of the formulationsreported to be sterile do not specify the particle size limits. Inaddition, tetracaine may also be toxic to the cornea. Thus, there is adesire for other, more efficacious anesthetic formulations for topicaladministration, especially formulations which cause less anxiety, pain,and provide both rapid onset and prolonged anesthetic activity.

The invention provides such an anesthetic formulation. These and otheradvantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features,will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing need has been fulfilled to a great extent by the inventionwhich provides an aqueous gel formulation comprising water, ananesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier.Specifically, the invention provides an aqueous gel formulation whichcomprises, consists essentially of, or consists of, water, ananesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier. Theformulation may also contain a pH adjusting agent or a product producedas a result of pH adjustment. Advantageously, the gel formulation isfree of preservatives and/or phosphate buffer. The aqueous gelformulation of the invention is targeted for application to varioustissues or organs (internal or external) of an animal, particularly tothe eye. The invention also provides a method for inducing topicalanesthesia to a tissue or organ of an animal. The administration of thetopical formulation of the invention preferably avoids the need toadminister a subsequent administration (e.g., topical or injection) ofthe anesthetic during a medical procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides, in an embodiment, an aqueous gel formulationcomprising water, an anesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicitymodifier, wherein the anesthetic is present in an amount of 15 mg per mlto about 50 mg per ml of the formulation, wherein the aqueous gelformulation is free of preservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonicwith physiological fluids, and is sterile having less than about 100particles of 50 microns particle size or more per ml of the aqueous gelformulation.

The aqueous gel formulation of the invention is free of preservatives,e.g., methyl paraben, propyl paraben, or EDTA. It is also free ofphosphate buffer. The aqueous gel formulation of the invention iscontemplated for use on various internal and external organs of the bodyor tissue, particularly on the eye. In an embodiment, the gelformulation is also free of permeation enhancers such as skin permeationenhancers, e.g., glycols, surfactants, or bile salts.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an aqueous gel formulationcomprising water, an anesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicitymodifier, wherein the anesthetic is present in an amount of 25 mg per mlto about 38 mg per ml of the formulation, and is suitable for topicaladministration to the eye. The aqueous gel formulation is free ofpreservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiologicalfluids, and is sterile having less than about particles of 50 micronsparticle size or more per ml of the aqueous gel formulation.

In accordance with the invention, any suitable anesthetic can be used.Suitable anesthetics include lidocaine, bupivicaine, mepivicaine,proparacaine, and narcaine, and pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are those derived from suchorganic and inorganic acids such as: acetic, lactic, citric, cinnamic,tartaric, succinic, fumaric, maleic, malonic, mandelic, malic, oxalic,propionic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric,glycolic, pyruvic, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, toluenesulfonic,benzoic, and similarly known acceptable acids. Preferably, theanesthetic is lidocaine hydrochloride.

In certain embodiments, the aqueous gel formulation comprises ananesthetic in an amount of 15 mg per ml to 38 mg per ml of theformulation. Typically, the aqueous gel formulation comprises ananesthetic in an amount of 20 mg per ml to 35 mg per ml of theformulation, preferably, in an amount of 25 mg per ml to 30 mg per ml ofthe formulation, and more preferably, in an amount of about 35 mg per mlof the formulation.

The viscoelastic polymer comprises any suitable gelling agent. Suitablegelling agents include hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose,sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethylene oxide/propylene oxidecopolymers, alginates, hyaluronates, guaran, pectin, tragacanth,carubin, carrageenan, and polyacrylic acid. Preferably, the gellingagent is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

The aqueous gel formulation can have any suitable pH. A suitable pHincludes from about 5.0 to about 7.5, preferably, from about 5.5 toabout 7.0, and more preferably, from about 6.0 to about 6.5. The pH isadjusted to minimize local, focal point irritation. The aqueous gelformulation may contain an acid or base used to adjust the pH, or anyreaction product formed as a result of pH adjustment.

The aqueous gel formulation can have any suitable viscosity to enabledrop-wise administration to the eye, for example, from about 2000 toabout 10,000 cps, preferably from about 5000 to about 8000 cps, at 25°C. An advantage of the formulation of the invention is that, in view ofthe viscous nature of the formulation, the residence time of theformulation on the tissue or organ, e.g., the eye, of the patient isincreased compared to anesthetic solutions which are less viscous. Theincreased residence time translates to long lasting anesthetic activity.

The aqueous gel formulation includes any suitable tonicity modifier tomatch the osmolarity (mosm) of the physiological fluids. Suitabletonicity modifiers include sodium chloride, potassium chloride,mannitol, sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, dextroseanhydrous, propylene glycol and glycerol. Preferably, the tonicitymodifier is sodium chloride. The tonicity modifier can be present in anamount of from about 0.5 to about 1% by weight, preferably from about0.8 to about 1% by weight, of the gel formulation. For example, thetonicity modifier, particularly sodium chloride, can be present in anamount of 0.9% by weight of the aqueous gel formulation. Typically, theaqueous gel formulation has a tonicity of from about 250 to about 350mosm, particularly about 280 mosm. The tonicity helps to avoidhyper/hypo tonicity effects on the tissue or organ, particularly on thecorneal layer, thereby increasing patient comfort.

The aqueous gel formulation can be prepared by any suitable method. Forexample, an aqueous solution containing the desired quantity of theviscoelastic polymer (gelling agent) and an aqueous solution containingthe desired quantity of the anesthetic agent, the tonicity modifier, andpH adjusting agent, can be prepared separately. The solution containingthe anesthetic and other ingredients can be sterile filtered on a 0.2micron filter. The solution containing the viscoelastic polymer (gellingagent) is sterilized, e.g., by ethylene oxide or gamma radiation. Thetwo solutions can be combined and mixed, and if desired diluted, toobtain an embodiment of the aqueous gel formulation of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of inducing topicalanesthesia on a tissue or organ of an animal. The method comprises (a)providing an aqueous gel formulation comprising water, an anesthetic, aviscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, wherein the anesthetic ispresent in an amount of 15 mg per ml to about 50 mg per ml of theformulation, wherein the gel formulation is free of preservatives andphosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiological fluids, and is sterilehaving less than about 100 particles of 50 microns particle size or moreper ml of the aqueous gel formulation; and (b) topically administeringan effective amount of the aqueous gel formulation to the tissue ororgan of the animal; whereby anesthesia is induced on the tissue ororgan of the animal. The aqueous gel formulation can be administered inany suitable manner. For example, it can be administered drop-wise froma dropper, by a cotton-tipped applicator, or by a caulking gun orsimilar device.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of inducing topicalanesthesia on the eye of an animal comprising providing an aqueous gelformulation comprising water, an anesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, anda tonicity modifier, wherein the anesthetic is present in an amount of25 mg per ml to 38 mg per ml of the formulation, and suitable fortopical administration to the eye; and topically administering aneffective amount of the aqueous gel formulation to the eye of theanimal; whereby anesthesia is induced on the eye of the animal.

In any of the embodiments, upon topical administration of the aqueousgel formulation of the invention to the tissue or organ of the animal,anesthesia onsets within 5 minutes, e.g., within about 15 seconds toabout 3 minutes of administration, particularly within about 5 secondsto about 1 minute of administration, or more particularly within aboutone second to about 30 seconds of administration. The onset time,particularly on the eye, is independent of the concentration of theanesthesia.

Anesthesia induced on the tissue or organ after administration of theaqueous gel formulation lasts up to 30 minutes or more, e.g., up toabout 10 to 30 minutes, up to about 15 to 20 minutes, or up to about 25minutes, so as to permit completion of a lengthy procedure, for example,cataract surgery. The duration of activity is dependent upon theconcentration of the anesthetic. For example, the duration is 30 minutesor more at 3.5%; 20 minutes or more at 2.5%, and 10 minutes or more at1.5% concentration of the anesthetic by weight. The embodiments of theinvention possess advantageous properties including rapid onset oftopical anesthesia and prolonged anesthetic activity, enabling variousmedical and surgical procedures to proceed without undesirableintervention, e.g., an anesthetic injection.

Embodiments of the aqueous gel formulation of the invention possess longterm storage stability, for example, they are stable for a period of upto 1, 2, 3 months or more, e.g., 24 months or more, at 40° C. and 20%relative humidity (RH). The aqueous gel formulation of the inventionpossesses freeze/thaw stability. The aqueous gel formulation of theinvention advantageously has long term stability such that the assay ofthe anesthetic is within 95.0% to 105.0%; not more than 0.1% largeanesthetic degradents (particularly large lidocaine degradent); and notmore than 1.0% of total anesthetic degradents (particularly totallidocaine degradent) over 3 months at 40° C. and 20% RH. The degradentscan be measured by any suitable method, e.g., HPLC. In embodiments ofthe invention, particularly where lidocaine hydrochloride is used on theeye, the aqueous gel formulation is clear, colorless, and free orsubstantially free from undissolved material or particulates.

Embodiments of the aqueous gel formulation of the invention have theadvantage of decreased risk of post-surgical endophthalmitis and/ordecreased corneal toxicity. It is contemplated that the formulation ofthe invention provides a superior anesthetic property over 0.5%tetracaine, and does not require a subconjunctival injection prior totreatment with intravitreal injection. In addition, lidocaine is lesstoxic to the cornea than tetracaine.

As the aqueous gel formulation of the invention is free of preservativesand is targeted for single use, it provides for increased patientsafety. There is a decreased probability of cross contamination andirritation on the tissue or organ, particularly on thecorneal/epithelial layer of the eye. Preservatives, such as parabens,tend degrade, e.g., hydrolyze to the corresponding acid(p-hydroxybenzoic acid) and alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, orpropanol). Since the formulation is free of preservatives, thepossibility of degradents being present in the formulation is decreased,and therefore, any adverse effect due to such degradents is decreased.Advantageously, the time to onset of anesthetic activity is independentof concentration of the anesthetic. The duration of anesthetic activitycan be controlled by controlling the concentration of the anesthetic.Advantageously, the aqueous gel formulation of the invention containsthe anesthetic and the viscoelastic polymer in a dissolved molecularstate, thereby permitting constant rate of release of the anestheticover time. This leads to increased duration of anesthetic activity andpatient comfort. In addition, controlling the particle size ofimpurities and their number as well as reducing degradents to a minimumincreases corneal safety.

The aqueous gel formulation of the invention is contemplated for use onprocedures carried out on various tissues and organs, e.g., inbronchoscopy, colonoscopy, GI procedures, intubation, dentistry, ear,nose, and throat (ENT), urology, and gynecology.

The aqueous gel formulation of the invention can be filled for singleuse in any suitable size container, for example, 5 ml dropper bottles,using aseptic techniques.

The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course,should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

Example 1

This example illustrates a method of preparing an aqueous gelformulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in an amount of 15 mg perml of the formulation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

500 ml of purified water is charged into a sterile vessel #1 using anaseptic technique. 25 g of sterile hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ischarged into vessel #1 using an aseptic technique and mixed. In aseparate vessel #2, 15 g of lidocaine hydrochloride and 9 g of sodiumchloride are dissolved in about 400 ml of purified water and passedthrough a 0.2 micron filter and aseptically transferred to vessel #1with mixing. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide solutions arefiltered through a 0.2 micron filter and added to vessel #1 to adjustthe pH to 6.0-6.5. Purified water is passed through a 0.2 micron filterto bring the formulation to 1 kg. The formulation is a sterile viscousgel and may be filled into sterile unit dose bottles of suitable size,e.g., 5 ml dropper bottles, using aseptic technique.

Example 2

This example illustrates a method of preparing an aqueous gelformulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in an amount of 25 mg perml of the formulation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

500 ml of purified water is charged into a sterile vessel #1 using anaseptic technique. 25 g of sterile hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ischarged into vessel #1 using an aseptic technique and mixed. In aseparate vessel #2, 25 g of lidocaine hydrochloride and 9 g of sodiumchloride are dissolved in about 400 ml of purified water and passedthrough a 0.2 micron filter and aseptically transferred to vessel #1with mixing. Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions arefiltered through a 0.2 micron filter and added to vessel #1 to adjust pH6.0-6.5. Purified water is passed through a 0.2 micron filter to bringthe formulation to 1 kg. The formulation is a sterile viscous gel andmay be filled into sterile unit dose bottles of suitable size, e.g., 5ml dropper bottles, using aseptic technique.

Example 3

This example illustrates a method of preparing an aqueous gelformulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in an amount of 35 mg perml of the formulation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

500 ml of purified water is charged into a sterile vessel #1 usingaseptic technique. 25 g of sterile hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ischarged into vessel #1 using aseptic technique and mixed. In a separatevessel #2, 35 g of lidocaine hydrochloride and 9 g of sodium chlorideare dissolved in about 400 ml of purified water and passed through a 0.2micron filter and aseptically transferred to vessel #1 with mixing.Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions are filtered through a0.2 micron filter and added to vessel #1 to adjust pH 6.0-6.5. Purifiedwater is passed through a 0.2 micron filter to bring the formulation to1 kg. The formulation is a sterile viscous gel and may be filled intosterile unit dose bottles of suitable size, e.g., 5 ml dropper bottles,using aseptic technique.

Example 4

This example illustrates the long term stability and freeze/thawstability of an embodiment of the aqueous gel formulation of theinvention comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in an amount of 15 mg perml of the formulation.

An aqueous gel formulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in anamount of 15 mg per ml of the formulation is placed on acceleratedstability storage at 40° C. and 20% relative humidity. The lidocainehydrochloride formulation and potential degradents are measuredinitially and after 1, 2, and 3 months of accelerated storage using ahigh pressure liquid chromatographic method. There is no change of theformulation characteristics, assay values, and degradents uponaccelerated storage supporting a room temperature stability of 24months. The freeze thaw cycle data also show the formulation to bestable during transportation and extreme seasonal exposures totemperatures. The stability data is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Stability data for aqueous gel formulation Freeze/ Test LimitsInitial 1 mo. 2 mo. 3 mo. thaw Assay:  95.0%- 99.7% 100.4% 99.6% 98.0%97.1% Lidocaine 105.0% Hydro- chloride Large NMT: 0.1% 0.06%  0.07%0.06% 0.07% 0.08% Lidocaine Degradent Total NMT: 1.0% 0.06%  0.07% 0.06%0.07% 0.08% Lidocaine Degradent Minimum NLT: 5 ml 6.3 ml 6.2 ml 6.2 ml6.2 ml 6.3 ml Fill pH 5.5-7.5 6.3 6.0 5.9 5.8 6.0 Appearance Clear, PassPass Pass Pass Pass colorless solution; free from undissolved materialSterility Sterile Pass N/A N/A N/A N/A

Example 5

This example illustrates the long term stability and freeze/thawstability of an embodiment of the aqueous gel formulation of theinvention comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in an amount of 25 mg perml of the formulation.

An aqueous gel formulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in anamount of 25 mg per ml of the formulation is placed on acceleratedstability storage at 40° C. and 20% relative humidity. The lidocainehydrochloride formulation and potential degradents are measuredinitially and after 1, 2, and 3 months accelerated storage using a highpressure liquid chromatographic method. There is no change of theformulation characteristics, assay values and degradents uponaccelerated storage supporting a room temperature stability of 24months. The freeze thaw cycle data also show the formulation to bestable during transportation and extreme seasonal exposures totemperature. The stability data is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Stability data for aqueous gel formulation Freeze/ Test LimitsInitial 1 mo. 2 mo. 3 mo. thaw Assay:  95.0%- 99.3% 100.6% 101.1% 98.7%98.3% Lidocaine 105.0% Hydro- chloride Large NMT: 0.1% 0.06%  0.07% 0.08% 0.06% 0.07% Lidocaine Degradent Total NMT: 1.0% 0.07%  0.07% 0.08% 0.06% 0.14% Lidocaine Degradent Minimum NLT: 5 ml 6.5 ml 6.4 ml6.4 ml 6.4 ml 6.5 Fill pH 5.5-7.5 6.4 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.1 Appearance Clear,Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass colorless solution; free from undissolvedmaterial Sterility Sterile Pass N/A N/A N/A N/A

Example 6

This example illustrates the long term stability of an embodimentaqueous gel formulation of the invention comprising lidocainehydrochloride in an amount of 35 mg per ml of the formulation.

An aqueous gel formulation comprising lidocaine hydrochloride in anamount of 35 mg per ml of the formulation is placed on acceleratedstability storage at 40° C. and 20% relative humidity. The lidocainehydrochloride and potential degradents are measured initially and after1, 2, and 3 months accelerated storage using a high pressure liquidchromatographic method. There is no change of the formulationcharacteristics, assay values and degradents upon accelerated storagesupporting a room temperature stability of 24 months. The freeze thawcycle data also show the formulation to be stable during transportationand extreme seasonal exposures to temperature. The stability data isshown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Stability data for aqueous gel formulation Freeze/ Test LimitsInitial 1 mo. 2 mo. 3 mo. thaw Assay:  95.0%- 98.9% 100.1% 100.4% 98.9%98.5% Lidocaine 105.0% Hydro- chloride Large NMT: 0.1% 0.05%  0.07% 0.07% 0.06% 0.05% Lidocaine Degradent Total NMT: 1.0% 0.05%  0.07% 0.07% 0.06% 0.09% Lidocaine Degradent Minimum NLT: 5 ml 6.4 ml 6.4 ml6.3 ml 6.3 ml 6.4 Fill pH 5.5-7.5 6.3 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.1 Appearance Clear,Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass colorless solution; free from undissolvedmaterial Sterility Sterile Pass N/A N/A N/A N/A

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. An aqueous gel formulation comprising water, an anesthetic, aviscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, wherein the anesthetic ispresent in an amount of 15 mg per ml to about 50 mg per ml of theformulation, wherein the aqueous gel formulation is free ofpreservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiologicalfluids, and is sterile having less than about 100 particles of 50microns particle size or more per ml of the aqueous gel formulation. 2.The aqueous gel formulation of claim 1, wherein the anesthetic isselected from the group consisting of lidocaine, bupivicaine,mepivicaine, proparacaine, and narcaine and a salt thereof.
 3. Theaqueous gel formulation of claim 2, wherein the anesthetic is lidocainehydrochloride.
 4. The aqueous gel formulation of claim 1, wherein theanesthetic is present in an amount of from 15 mg to 38 mg per ml and theaqueous gel formulation is suitable for administration to the eye. 5.The aqueous gel formulation of claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic polymercomprises a gelling agent.
 6. The aqueous gel formulation of claim 5,wherein the gelling agent is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
 7. Theaqueous gel formulation of claim 1, which has a pH from about 5.0 toabout 7.5.
 8. The aqueous gel formulation of claim 1, which has aviscosity from about 2000 to about 10,000 cps at 25° C.
 9. The aqueousgel formulation of claim 3, wherein the viscoelastic polymer compriseshydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
 10. The aqueous gel formulation of claim9, wherein the tonicity modifier is sodium chloride.
 11. A method ofinducing topical anesthesia in a tissue or organ of an animalcomprising: a) providing an aqueous gel formulation comprising water, ananesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, wherein theanesthetic is present in an amount of 15 mg per ml to about 50 mg per mlof the formulation, and the gel formulation is free of preservatives andphosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiological fluids, and is sterilehaving less than about 100 particles of 50 microns particle size or moreper ml of the aqueous gel formulation; and b) topically administering aneffective amount of the aqueous gel formulation to the tissue or organof the animal; whereby anesthesia is induced on the tissue or organ ofthe animal.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wherein theanesthetic is selected from the group consisting of lidocaine,bupivicaine, mepivicaine, proparacaine, and narcaine and a salt thereof.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the anesthetic is lidocainehydrochloride.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the anesthetic ispresent in an amount of from 15 mg to about 35 mg per ml and theformulation is administered to the eye of the animal.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the viscoelastic polymer compriseshydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein theanesthesia onsets within 5 minutes of administration of the aqueous gelformulation.
 17. The method of claim 17, wherein the anesthesia lasts upto 30 minutes or more.
 18. An aqueous gel formulation comprising water,an anesthetic, a viscoelastic polymer, and a tonicity modifier, whereinthe anesthetic is present in an amount of 25 mg per ml to 38 mg per mlof the formulation, and the aqueous gel formulation is free ofpreservatives and phosphate buffer, is isotonic with physiologicalfluids, and is sterile having less than about 100 particles of 50microns particle size or more per ml of the aqueous gel formulation andsuitable for topical administration to the eye.
 19. The aqueous gelformulation of claim 18, wherein the anesthetic is lidocainehydrochloride.
 20. A method of inducing topical anesthesia on the eye ofan animal comprising: a) providing an aqueous gel formulation accordingto claim 18; and b) topically administering an effective amount of theaqueous gel formulation to the eye of the animal; whereby anesthesia isinduced on the eye of the animal.